Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

Pou, sounds like what a coach would say at the presser. We lost the game but we won the second half bullshit. Regardless we STILL lost the game. A coach is paid to win the game, not the first or second half of a game and still lose.

The coach isn't paid to win any particular game. He is paid to get the team at close to maximum performance as often as possible. It is his job to address what is wrong with the team, and it appears he has identified the same problem that I have - some of our players are being instinctive about using the ball, rather than being smart about it.

It's all well and good to say the squad isn't good enough (good enough for what? I think the squad is as good as most in this comp, but obviously not as good as a couple) but improving the squad in 2017 is out of our hands - the players that would improve the team are all contracted to other clubs.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yes but that's because you have a severely overinflated opinion of your own opinions and knowledge....

Or more likely is that you underestimate my opinion because you disagree.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

He has said in a couple of pressers that he lets them take risks with the ball but they have to be prepared to defend their errors.

A more cynical person than I would probably take that statement as a bit of a cop-out.

 

[Bazal]

Hit list
Cotric is off contract end of 2018.
5/8 - Lachlan Croker worth looking at
Hooker - Katoa - Lichaa
Forward- Asiata

Cotric is the talk of Canberra at the moment. No way they don't lock him up very shortly IMO. Lachlan Croker is ordinary, Lichaa is absolute garbage and I'd be appalled if we signed him.

Asiata is a good young player but honestly wouldn't force anyone out of our starting 17 so what's the point? Unless we move Beau Scott on and we need a decent lock who won't cost the earth, in which case yeah Asiata would be a good signing.

I'd be disappointed if we weren't chasing someone like Widdop, we desperately need another half a first grade dummy half option and another quality middle forward.

If anything I think we need a better lock than Beau Scott. I love the bloke as a player but realistically I think we need a bit more attacking ability out of our lock. The props are fine, this is the first week they really haven't made metres but you'll always have games like that. I think if you put Edwards and Moeroa in that game we do a lot better....but it might be time to try and move Beau Scott on and look at someone like an Asiata who is easily good enough to play regular first grade footy.

If we can't get Widdop or Bird, I'd be looking at Ata Hingano or Mason Lino from the Warriors. They are both genuinely good enough to play first grade IMO, both will be looking for an opportunity to do so, and they won't cost the earth. Lino particularly is a goal kicker with a very nice kicking game. I reckon he'd complement Norman nicely.

Hooker is getting towards desperation stakes tbh. Kaysa is woeful. He's just not a first grade hooker. He made one run for 4m last night, that's absolutely pathetic and his service sucks.

 

[lingard]

The issue isn't where we throw the offloads IMO. A good offload in your own half can be the difference between a 40m set and a 60m set. The issue is as much who throws them as anything else. We've got a few players who are natural offloaders (Brown, for eg) and a few who aren't. The problem comes when guys like Mannah try and throw an offload. Firstly, he's not a noted offloader so no other merkin is expecting it and secondly he's rubbish at it so it often goes to ground, which means when no one is expecting it the defence has a great chance to jump on it.....and of course throwing offloads when you're going backwards helps no one.

I think the issue is: WHY are players like Mannah throwing off-loads.

 

[Bazal]

I think the issue is: WHY are players like Mannah throwing off-loads.

Only my opinion, obviously I can't know what they're thinking like Pou reckons he can but I think it's because our hooker sucks. The forwards are trying to create some momentum because we can't do that from the base of the ruck.

 

[Noise]

I think the issue is: WHY are players like Mannah throwing off-loads.

If you read the cumberland throw training reports they are raving about our forwards ball playing ability at training and our forwards have all been encouraged to offload.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

A more cynical person than I would probably take that statement as a bit of a cop-out.

So would a more stupid person than you.

 

[Chipmunk]

Can Lolohea be any good as a 6?

I'm not going to say either way, I think he'd be a risk for sure, but maybe he just needs to be part of a different system to shine.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Only my opinion, obviously I can't know what they're thinking like Pou reckons he can but I think it's because our hooker sucks. The forwards are trying to create some momentum because we can't do that from the base of the ruck.

The forwards are throwing offloads because our dummy half is no good?

 

[Bazal]

Can Lolohea be any good as a 6?

I'm not going to say either way, I think he'd be a risk for sure, but maybe he just needs to be part of a different system to shine.

He's no better than Gutherson IMO. He's got no real kicking game, which is where we're lacking. Excellent ball runner but I think his best position is fullback.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If you read the cumberland throw training reports they are raving about our forwards ball playing ability at training and our forwards have all been encouraged to offload.

They just need to be smarter about it. There have been some good offloads thrown and some bad ones. Hopefully they are learning from them.

Getting driven back is frustrating but it's not the time to be popping offloads.

 

[Bazal]

The forwards are throwing offloads because our dummy half is no good?

Not necessarily, it's only a guess. They're trying to create momentum because they get poor service and our hooker can't create a roll up the field. For some of them it might manifest as throwing an offload because they feel that we need more metres and to get the defence on the back foot.

Certainly we threw fewer risky offloads in the games where the forwards were able to get a roll on.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

So would a more stupid person than you.

You don't think the coach should have a better understanding of our team's ability to offload and defend? He's better off leaving them to determine that?

 

[Chipmunk]

He's no better than Gutherson IMO. He's got no real kicking game, which is where we're lacking. Excellent ball runner but I think his best position is fullback.

Probably right.

 

[Chipmunk]

They just need to be smarter about it. There have been some good offloads thrown and some bad ones. Hopefully they are learning from them.

Getting driven back is frustrating but it's not the time to be popping offloads.

How many offloads did the forwards throw in the set of six for our first try yesterday?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

If anything I think we need a better lock than Beau Scott. I love the bloke as a player but realistically I think we need a bit more attacking ability out of our lock.

Enter Nathan Brown

 

[Bazal]

Enter Nathan Brown

Yep, that's great and he's a very good option.

But Beau Scott on the bench is a waste of time....maybe he could start in the back row and Tepai could come off the bench? Might allow Tepai to play a bit more attacking footy as well. Of course, then you've got two back rowers on the bench and an 80 minute back rower in Ma'u....maybe Scott can shift to lock when Brown gets a breather? I dunno, but I think Scott on the bench is total waste of time personally.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Not necessarily, it's only a guess. They're trying to create momentum because they get poor service and our hooker can't create a roll up the field.

Is it the hooker who can't create a roll on or is it the blokes running the ball?

For some of them it might manifest as throwing an offload because they feel that we need more metres and to get the defence on the back foot.

Or might they be throwing offloads because they know our spine lacks the experience to work off a slow play-the-ball?

Certainly we threw fewer risky offloads in the games where the forwards were able to get a roll on.

Yeah obviously.

 

[Bazal]

Or might they be throwing offloads because they know our spine lacks the experience to work off a slow play-the-ball?

.

Does that not start with the service from the hooker at the base of the ruck? Is he suddenly not part of the spine?

It's not like Norman, the chief play maker, is inexperienced....